Interventions to improve physical activity in individuals with congenital heart disease: a scoping review

Approximately one in 100 children are born with congenital heart disease (CHD). Advances in surgical and medical management during recent decades have resulted in drastic improvements in outcomes for this population; however, functional and structural abnormalities predispose these individuals to an increased risk of secondary complications. It is increasingly recognised that physical activity and exercise have an important role to play in optimising long term health and quality of life outcomes for individuals with CHD. Indeed, a recent American Heart Association scientific statement identified that: 1) physical activity counseling is an important medical management approach to reduce cardiovascular risk in children with CHD; and 2) strategies to promote physical activity among individuals with CHD is a research priority. The aim of this scoping review is to gain a better understanding of existing physical activity interventions for this population, with the ultimate aim to inform future research in the area of physical activity promotion in CHD.